BACK BONDING

ASSIGNMENT - 10

1. BF3 exists but BH3 does not. Why explain?

2. Arrange the following boron trihalides in the increasing order of their ease of hydrolysis. Also give the
reason for the same.
BF3, BCl3, BBr3
3. In which of the following compounds B – F bond length is shortest ?
(A) BF4– (B) BF3  NH3 (C) BF3 (D) BF3  N(CH3)3
4. Which of the following statement is false for trisilylamine ?
(A) Three sp2 orbitals are used for  bonding, giving a plane triangular structure.
(B) The lone pair of electrons occupy a p-orbital at right angles to the plane triangle and this overlaps with
empty p–orbitals on each of the three silicon atoms resulting in  bonding.
(C) The N–Si bond length is shorter than the expected N–Si bond length.
(D) It is a weaker Lewis base than trimethyl amine.
5. Which of the following statement is correct for the 1 : 1 complex of trimethyl amine and boron tri fluoride?
(A) The B - F bond length in the complex is longer than that of in BF3.
(B) The N is pyramidal with sp3 hybridisation and B is planar with sp2 hybridisation.
(C) The coordination geometry of N and B both are tetrahedral with sp3 hybridisation each.
(D) (A) and (C) both.

Answer Key
1. BF3 molecule being electron deficient gets stabilised through P – Pback bonding. where as BH3 removes
its electron deficiency through dimerisation and thus exists as B2H6.
2. BF3 < BCl3 < BBr3
Electron acceptor strength of boron halides on the basis of back bonding is BBr3 > BCl3 > BF3 Hydrolysis
takes place through coordinate bond formation, easier the coordinate bond formation greater is the extent
of hydrolysis.
3. C 4. B 5. D